Courtesy The Star Phoenix:

The players think of themselves as Saskatchewan Roughriders. They’re not imports and non-imports, Americans and Canadians, vying for the Grey Cup championship — “the biggest game in all of our lives,” said Saskatchewan’s home-grown fullback Neal Hughes.

But it’s still interesting to note that all the Roughriders’ scoring in the CFL West final was done by Canadian players, which is a rarity on a squad whose game-breaking scorers are usually imports — quarterback Kerry Joseph, (injured) wideout Matt Dominguez, slotback D.J. Flick, returner Corey Holmes and tailback Wes Cates.

“Whatever makes us win a game,” said Flick. “If Canadians score all the points, I’ll go along for the show. Or I’ll be a Canadian, too.”

Hughes caught a touchdown pass from Joseph, so did slotback Andy Fantuz, a first-round selection in the 2006 CFL draft, in Saskatchewan’s 26-17 victory over the B.C. Lions on Sunday.

“That’s a cool stat, but it’s a team game,” said Fantuz. “Just because we scored the touchdowns and the field goals, we still needed all 12 of us on offence to march the ball down and get the points.”

In addition to the touchdown receptions by Hughes and Fantuz, Luca Congi kicked four field goals in four attempts. He also converted both of Saskatchewan’s touchdowns.

“It doesn’t matter, we’re all a team,” said Congi. “Canadians, Americans, we’re all Saskatchewan Roughriders.”

When the Roughriders last qualified for the Grey Cup in 1997, Gene Makowsky was one of the team’s non-imports. The others included guard Andrew Greene, kicker Paul McCallum, fullback Chris Szarka and linebacker Dan Rashovich.

Szarka and Makowsky are the lone holdovers from 1997, although centre Jeremy O’Day was on the winning Toronto Argonauts that season and two years afterward joined the Roughriders as a free agent.

In 1989, when the Riders last won the Grey Cup, their roster included such premier non-imports as slotbacks Ray Elgaard and Jeff Fairholm, offensive linemen Roger Aldag and Vic Stevenson, safety Glen Suitor, fullback Milson Jones, linebackers Rashovich and Steve Crane, kicker Dave Ridgway and punter Terry Baker

“Usually the foundation of a good team is good Canadians, so there you go,” said Makowsky, a Canadian tackle in his 13th season since being drafted out of the University of Saskatchewan.

Even though every CFL roster now has more Americans than Canadians, the secret to building a good team is making sure to have seven Canadians capable of starting.

That’s the minimum ratio when teams follow the restrictions for their 42-man active roster — 20 non-imports, 19 imports and three quarterbacks; all 24 quarterbacks on the eight teams’ rosters are Americans. Three of the American players are D.I.s (designated imports), who can play on all special teams but must replace another import if they come onto the field for an offensive or a defensive play.

Saskatchewan often deploys more than seven starting non-imports. Recently they have been Makowsky, O’Day, guards Mike Abou-Mechrek and Wayne Smith, Szarka (who divides time with a non-import receiver, usually Michael Palmer), Fantuz, wideout Corey Grant, defensive tackle Scott Schultz and safety Scott Gordon.

Having nine Canadians in their starting lineup allow the Roughriders more leeway when substituting for specific situations.